Help, I'm ignorant, but not stupid!!!

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

Hi guys. I know that all of you who lurk are much more savvy than I am. So Here are my thoughts and some questions.
First of all some of these may have already been answered in other post, but I'm not sure where.
This what I'm thinking of trying to do.

1. Put together a home system that I can record sound tracks and then add more instruments either live or via such programs as BIAB.

2. Record vocals both solo and then harmonized with it by singing on additional tracks or using a harmonizer.

3. Is it possible to use the same vocal track over on an additional track with some delay or reverb to add fullness to the final product?

4. How many tracks do I need to start with?

5. Can this be mostly done with software?
P.S. I would prefer using software if I can accomplish what I'm trying to do as I am reasonably computer savvy.

I will probably have other questions as we go, but I am hoping some of you techies(sp?) can help get me started in the right direction.

Richard Sevigny · From: Salmon Arm, BC, Canada

Doug,

I've been doing computer home recording for about 10 years now. I'm ever so slowly inching towards getting a good sound of it Oh Well

To get the best sound possible, I suggest you get a pro quality soundcard or USB DAW controller(capable of 24 bit 96 KHz sound capture). Many of these are bundled with recording software (Cubase is a pretty common one) that come with on board effects and can handle at least 16 tracks of audio simultaneouly. (That means the answers to questions 2,3, and 5 is YES! Very Happy

)

Let me know if this answers at least some of your questions Cool

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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.

-Albert Einstein

Shane Glover · From: Oklahoma, USA

Hi Doug

I use a product by Cakewalk called Guitar Tracks Pro. Several versions are available. I saw Gt Pro 4 in musicians friend for 50 bucks. It is a 32 track software recording program.I plug into my sound card and record one track at a time.It also comes with Drum loops .These are prerecorded phrases you can loop together to make a drum track.

I build a drum track with loops & then record Bass, Lead & Rythm guitar, vocals. anything you want to record. You can copy, cut and paste tracks.I almost always copy my lead vocals and add reverb . I also copy tracks like rythm guitar. Use one track dry make two more tracks and put chorus on one and reverb on the other. Mix all three tracks for a killer rythm sound.It has all kinds of effects and mastering tools such as compression, EQ and limiting.

I learn new things every time I use it. You can buy an interface and record multiple tracks at a time.I am sure one of these days I will gain enough experience to have some great recordings. Right now I have some pretty decent demos.PM me your email address & I can send you an example of what it can do. Bottom line for no more than it costs you can't lose!!

Shane
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Buncha CRAP !! But someday Ima get me some good gear !!

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

Thanks for your input. I'm open to all of your suggestions. I just want to get as good a sound as possible without going broke (Ha). Please keep the ideas coming. I will be forever grateful.

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

What are some good sound cards? I am just using what came on the motherboard at present and am sure that I can do much better. I am not a gamer so that is not a consideration on sound.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I took the dive into computer recording about 2 years ago. I started out with Cubase LE that came with a firewire connected recording interface unit but soon found out that wasn't really what I wanted. I found Cakewalk Sonar at a reduced "competitive upgrade" price and went for Sonar and am very happy with it. The Current version Sonar 8.5.3 (professional edition) is what I'm using. Sonar and Pro Tools are the two "biggie" recording programs.

I started out with an Alesis io26 8 channel firewire recording interface but have since "graduated" to the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, 8 channel firewire connected recording interface and it is far superior to the Alesis.

With Recording programs such as Sonar, tracks are almost limitless, you can record voice on one track, bounce or copy that track to a second track. add whatever you want to each track, pan them however you like, etc. Same way with instrument tracks, MIDI tracks or whatever. There are some add ons that come with Sonar that include drum tracks, or MIDI drum synths, bass tracks/synths, etc. Effects include delays, reverbs, chorouses, various EQ's, tube emulation add-ons, compressors and even a pitch correcting program similar to the Antares (included in the Professional version). Sonar just issued an upgrade from 8.5.2 to 8.5.3 that added some additional time correction for lining up tracks that are not in sync.

Sonar has 32 bit and 64 bit versions so if you have a 64 bit OS it will work in a 64 bit "native" mode. It is XP/Vista/Win 7 compatible.

Although not a "required" item, I've added pieces to my "studio" and now have samson studio monitors, a "control surface" control unit (a Behringer BCF2000) and recently added a MIDI keyboard (Edirol PCR500).

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

Thanks to each of you for your input. I feel so lost in this venue but am willing to learn, so all of your info is a great learning experience for me. As I said earlier, I'm relatively computer savvy but not in this field. I'm still looking for info on an upgrade sound card. I know that there some out there that will not break the bank but can produce good quality recordings. Thanks again and please keep the input coming.

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Doug,
Everything that you listed in your quest can be done ....and MUCH MORE !!!....I guess the next question is ...How much do you want to spend ? ....Remember , you need to get a sound card, a computer program, and also some half way decent monitors to hear the music that you are going to be making .....Also , are you on a PC or an Apple computer ? .....Jim

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

I'm on a PC.

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

I have been a Mac user most of my computer experience , but did use a PC for a while and still have one ....I used Sonar for my recording/sequencer program as it was pretty much one of the industry standards for PC and was widely used , and plenty of support for it ....It also continues to have updates and doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon ....I hooked up an Event sound card which has a really nice sound to it ...Very clean sound with minimul fuss, and I was also able to use it with GigaStudio which was my main reason for setting up a PC ... There are quite a few different inexpensive monitors available to you ...I have higher end monitors so I won't reccomend any less expensive monitors to you as I'm not that familiar with them .....Good Luck in your search ....Jim

Larz May · From: Indianapolis IN, USA

From being a working studio and FOH/Monitor engineer for god knows how long now...I have figured out one thing...people spend way too much on software and hardware and not NEARLY enough on monitors. You can be sitting in front of a NEVE 96 input and have crappy monitors...your mix will be crappy.

I currently use a Yamaha 4416 ($1500 used), BX-8 Monitors and DBX mastering suite...and oh how sweet it is. You can check out the mixes on itunes under John Stevens Jr.-The Summer Sessions 2007

As for everything else...its all tricks.

Something that is very useful is recording say drum machine and bass tracks direct...THEN...mic your monitors and rerecord the tracks back into new tracks...it gives those stagnate tracks AIR!!! and good room feel.

Good Luck!!!
_________________
Korg Trinity-76/Alesis 8.2-88
Fernandes Custom Tele's
Takamine LTD Cutaway
Roscoe Custom 6 Bass
PODXTLive/POD2.0
LoneStar SD-10 Keyless
Goodrich VP/6A SuperSustainer
Peterson iStrobe

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Hi Doug, you mentioned using BIAB. How about using PowerTracks or the newer RealBand that replaced PowerTracks? Both are compatible with BIAB and either program will do what your askin.

Shane Glover · From: Oklahoma, USA

Amen on the monitors. I learned that the hard way. Killer Idea on rerecording your bass and drum tracks. I'm gonna give that a shot myself!!

Shane
_________________
Buncha CRAP !! But someday Ima get me some good gear !!

Doug Rolfe · From: Indianapolis, IN

I am probably going to use my Klipsch Forte speakers when I can get everything else figured out. Keep the info coming. I truely appreciate all of the input.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

I just took a class called Music Production using Sonar 8 through Berklee College in Boston online. Its a 12 week course. It certainly helped me get my feet wet with a DAW recording system.

Wayne Franco

Paul M. Matthews · From: New Jersey, USA

Hello,

I know that there are products out there that convert Midi to Steel tab (TabEdit), but is there anything to convert mp3 instrumentals to Steel tab?

Paul
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I want to Steel it all.....

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